Although afluffy romance anime or mangais a quick fix to heal the soul, not everything is sunshine and rainbows when it comes to relationships. Whether it’s the wrong time, place, or people, some relationships tend to leave a bitter taste in viewers' mouths purely because of the wholesomeness that it lacks.
Depending on the reader’s interests, some stories go above and beyond to either teach them a life lesson or a harsh truth. Such toxic relationships are relatable to an extent, whereas some are unfortunately romanticized by the industry. If any anime watchers or manga readers would like to try their hand at some of these stories that expertly portray toxic relationships, do proceed with caution, as they are not for the weak-hearted.
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This type of series may not be for everyone as it introduces a simple schoolgirl named Ranko who is continuously sought after by her younger stepbrother, Kaya. They enter each other’s lives when they’re teenagers, and although Kaya has explicitly said he’s never seen her as a sister, his mental vulnerability is the main red flag here.
Kaya is unequivocally emotionally and mentally scarred due to the harsh abuse he faced in his past. He almost unhealthily craves love, validation, and comfort. He’s a bad person in general, yet also an intriguing characterfrom a psychological POV.Their relationship is quite toxic and raises a lot of sexual harassment issues as well, but readers still hope to see some growth inSpring Storm and Monster.
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Miku and Haru’s relationship may hit a little too close to home for some readers. As a woman, Miku has always been interested in expressing herself through makeup, but her boyfriend Harunever misses a moment to shoot down her happiness. Their relationship is a toxic push-and-pull of approval, manipulation, and gaslighting at its finest.
Haru is the antagonist inMakeup with Mud, as his ‘ideal’ image of a wife is one that obeys him and dresses ‘neatly’. It’s only when Miku meets Yves that she soon realises the drastic effects her relationship with Haru is causing on her mental well-being. This story portrays toxic relationships so realistically that it can be terrifying, so readers may find some connection with Miku as she starts her journey of self-love.
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Studio Cabananot only has amazing art but a captivating story that touches on the innocence of young love and the strong themes of abuseand harassment that can come with it.Yuusuke and Haruki’s relationship is far from morally acceptable as Yuusuke is a minor while Haruki is an adult.
Despite this, Haruki takes advantage of Yuusuke’s feelings for her and uses him for pleasure whenever she feels lonely. Yuusuke himself is too caught up in his love for her to even realize how much of a terrible person she is. The story is bound to make readers not only shed tears but also wish for a better future for Yuusuke and Maki, who is the female lead.
The situation between Yui and the six Sakamaki brothers inDiabolik Loversis a questionable turn of events. Although the anime does includeother romanceable characters from the game, the brothers are the main characters of this bloody show.
Yui is unfortunately manipulated left, right, and center by these vampires as she has blood running through her that appeals the most to them. She’s often placed in terrifying situations, scared for her life, or questioning her self-worth. The anime is less triggering than the games, yet viewers are sure to feel the constant helplessness Yui feels on a daily basis.
Kyoya and Erika’s relationship inWolf Girl and Black Princeison the lower spectrum of toxicity for this list. The start of their relationship does have issues, with Kyoya’s sadistic nature playing a huge part in Erika’s deal with him as her pretend boyfriend.
By modern standards, one could say that Kyoya keeps Erika near him through various methods of emotional manipulation and gaslighting. However, as Kyoya’s true nature as a tsundere is revealed, Erika eventually begins to see things in a different light. This story does have mixed reviews, so it is recommended to read the manga so that viewers can gain a better idea of the characters’ personalities.
Satou and Shio have quite a complex relationship inHappy Sugar Life. It borders on toxic and unhealthy, as Satou befriends and ‘adopts’ Shio after she is abandoned. This, in turn, creates space for an unhealthy attachment as Satou grows to great lengths to protect their relationship.
Although the relationship is left open to interpretation in the anime, most view it as romantic in the manga.Satou has a possessive desire to protectthe love she has for Shio and will practically do anything—even murder—to secure it.
Scum’s Wishmight not be for everyone, but it’s a story that makes one think. Mugi and Hanabi are hopelessly in love with two different people but have chosen to use each other to fight their loneliness. Mugi is in love with an older teacher, whilst Hanabi is in love with an older childhood friend. They get caught up in this never-ending cycle of acceptance and denial until it eventually affects everyone around them.
Hanabi ends up in a pitiful sexual relationship with her best friend Sanae, whereas Akane takes the chance to finally take advantage of Mugi’s feelings for her,despite being his teacher. Each of their crippling emotional needs to feel wanted overflow and the drama presents a surprisingly educational outlook on what it means to be a teenager in such an overwhelming society.
Shigure and Akito fromFruits Basketis the type of toxic relationship that hurts in a good way. They can be best described as lovers doomed from the start. The two of them fell for each other as children, but that innocent love soon morphed into something quite terrifying.
Akito’s god complex and obsessionaffected her relationship with Shigure, and the two of them ended up in quite a chaotic situationship. Akito was intimate with Kureno to deepen her zodiac bond with him, but in retaliation, Shigure was intimate with Akito’s mother. This further soured their relationship, yet despite this, they still sought physical comfort in each other and couldn’t help but communicate their frustration in any other way.
